Quick attachment device



April 28, 1959 R. F. GOTT ET AL QUICK ATTACHMENT DEVICE Filed March 29,1956 2 Sheet-Sheec 1 FIG. 1

36 NW, 52 4 a7 35 f 3/ 4/ 40 42 27 26 IVENTORS R. F. 6077' E. J. H. LANEApril 1959 Q R. G O'l 'T ET AL 2,883,930

QUICK ATTACHMENT DEVICE Filed March 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSR. E 607T E. J. H. LANE ATTO EYs United States Patent V QUICKATTACHMENT-DEVICE :Richard F. Gott, Silver Spring,-andFEdward 'I. I-I.Lane,

The i en on e cr b d he in may be manufac ured and used er o thGovernmen of th Un ed ta s of America for governmental purposes withoutthe payment of any royalties thereon or therefor,

The invention relates to a device for-securing together plates, joints,containers, on the like and more particularly to :a'fastening device forquickly attaching and locking a fin assembly to abomb casing.

Moreover, the invention relates to new andirnproved attaching means forquickly attaching i8. fin assembly to a bomb or othermissile at the timethe bomb is to be released .firoman aircraft .or at the time of :otherdis-' char e o fir n I pre e pra h t ss v s mashed to the hpmb a in by es I set s s bolts or the like which is time consuming and requires theuse of different sizes of wrenches and other tools. The inventioncontemplates the provision of -a new and improved attaching device whichovercomes the disadvantages encountered in prior art devices byproviding a quick attaching device whereby the fin assembly i. attachedto the bomb casing substantially instantaneously without the use ofscrews, boltsor wrenches.

. An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved deviceforquickly connecting apvair of casings, join s Plate tesether insuch m rthat the l ti p ssesses i d y to the extent. that a lo connection isachieved which prevents separation of the parts in response to all typesof loading force applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for quicklyconnecting a fin assembly to the casing of an ordnance missile.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an attachingdevice for a fin assembly which is quickly and easily secured to a bombcasing without the use of screws or bolts or any tools.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fastenerwherein means are provided for quickly attaching and detaching a finassembly to an ordnance missile.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood hyreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein: V

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in section and partially inelevation of a bomb casing and tin assembly illustrating the attachingdevice constructed in accordance with the present invention fordetachably securing the assembly to the casing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating theattaching device locked to the bomb casing;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the device in a releasedcondition;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the device in a positionfor rotation into locking engagement with the bomb casing;

2,883,930 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 2 Fig. 5 is a cross sectional viewtaken the line 5--5 of Fig. 1, and; Fig. 6 is an enlarged end View ofthe tail assembly of Fig. '1 illustrating the arrangement of the lockingdevices thereon. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly toFig. 1 thereof, the numeral 10' indicates a bomb casipg having a plate11 arranged internally thereof and secured thereto in any suitablemanner such, for example, as by welding the parts together. A detachabletail or fin sembly is generally indicated by the reference character 12and comprises a casing 13 having an annular men} ber 14 arrangedinternally therein and secured thereto, preferably by welding the partstogether. The quick attaching device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention is generally indicated by' the numeral 16 andcomprises a sleeve, housing or casing 17 secured to the annular member14 in any suitable man.- ner, preferably by welding the parts togetheras at 15. The casing 17 is provided at one end thereof with awall 18,the other end thereof being provided with a bushing 19 in threadedengagement with a centrally disposed bore 21 formed in the casing.Disposed within the bore ta tia y .1

21 and generally indicated by the reference character 22.

lateral ofliset clamping head 28 having a cam surface 129.

formed thereon, the purpose of which will be more clea ly apparent asthe description pnoceeds.

As more clearly shown on Fig. 2 the clamping head 28 is maintained inlocking engagement with platefll'hy a wedge element generally indicatedby the numeral 31 comprising a member 32 having one end thereof taperedas at 33, the other end thereof being formed at an angle as illustratedto provide an actuating element 34, the element extending through anelongated slot 30 formed in casing 17 and a corresponding slot 30'formed in the tail casing 13. The member 32 is further provided with aflat surface 35 in engagement with a corresponding fiat surface 36 onthe rod 22 and a cylindrical portion 37 disposed within a bore 38 formedin bushing 19 and in engagement with the wall defining the bore, Fig. 4.By this arrangement it will be noted that the Wedge element 31 isslideably supported within the casing 17. It will be further noted, Fig.2, that when the device is in a locked condition, the cam surface 29 onclamping head 28 is in engagement with the beveled seat 39, bordering onopening 41 in plate 11, the cam surface being maintained in engagementwith the seat 39 by the member 32, on Wedge 31, the wedge being urgedtoward the opening 41 'by a spring 42 disposed within the bore 21 havingone end thereof in engagement with wall 18, the other end thereof beingin engagement with the wedge 31. The spring urges the tapered end 33 ofmember 31 in opening 41 in wedging and locking engagement with the wallthereof as at 40, Fig. 2, and thus further movement of the member. 31 isprevented and the actuating member 34 thereon is maintained spaced fromthe bushing 19 such that the pressure of the wedging action maintainsthe wedge in a locked condition. Moreover, when the device is in alocked condition, Fig. 2, it will be noted that the cam 29 is disposedwithin seat 39, the tapered end 33 is wedged in opening 41 and theforward end of casing 17 is in abutting engagement with plate 11whereupon the tail assembly is securely locked to the bomb casing.

As more clearly shown on Figs. 2 and 3 the opening 41 is provided withan entrance chamber 43 for guiding the lateral offset head and taperedend 33 into opening 41 as the tail assembly is being attached to thebomb casing.

It will be understood, however, that the offset head 28 substantiallyfills the opening 41 thereby preventing the tapered end from enteringthe opening until the head has passed through the opening. During theinsertion of the head within the opening 41, Fig. 3, the wedge 31 ismoved rearwardly against the tension of the spring 42 as'the tapered endon wedge 31 engages the chamber 43 on'plate 11. Thus when the olfsethead clears the opening the spring 42 drives the wedge forwardly withsuflicient force to wedge the tapered end 33 thereof in opening '41thereby forcing and maintaining the cam 29 on head 28 in lockingengagement with the seat 39 in plate 11 whereupon the tail assembly issecurely locked to the bomb casing.

It will be noted, Fig. 6, that the locking devices are arrangedcircumferentially around the member 14 in mutually spaced relation insuch a manner thatthe olfset the-wedge structure.

Although, the device has been described in connection with an ordnancemissile it will 'be understood that, if desired, the device may be usedfor securely locking other articles together such, for example, ascontainers,

plate partitions and joints in any type of body.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the aboveteachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention maybe practiced otherwise than specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is: v A device for detachably securing a fin tailassembly to a bomb casing comprising in combination;

4 1 a substantially circular plate fixed within said bomb casing andhaving a plurality of apertures in quadrature relation at the peripherythereof, each aperture defining a tapered seat formed at a surface ofthe plate remote from the fin tail assembly, a plurality of tubularmembers secured internally of said fin tail assembly and having aplurality of bores each extending through a respective tubular member,each of said members being aligned with a respective one of saidapertures, a plurality of clamping rods each fixed at one end to arespective one of said tubular members and extending through the borethereof, a laterally otfset head formed at thevother end of each of saidrods and extending through a corresponding aperture in said platelaterally adjacent to the seat prior to locking of the fin tail to thebomb casing, each of said rods having a cut out portion formedvin andextending along the side of the rod opposite to the offset head, aplurality of wedge means disposed respectively within the bores of saidtubular members and in slidable engagement with the respective rods atthe cut out portions thereof, spring means urging each wedge meansalong'the cut out portion of said wedge toward the plate in the casing,whereby rotational movement of said fin tail moves. each rod laterallywith respect to the opening in said plate-to permit" each offset head toengage its respective seat and allow said spring means to urge eachwedge means into its corresponding aperture thereby to wedge and-retaineach offset head in locking engage-' ment with its' respective seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,315,358 Baldwin Sept. 9, 1919 1,403,655, 1 Tirrill 'Jan. 17, 1922-2,284,180 ,Thomas May-26, 1942 2,394,749 Chester Feb. 12, 1946 2,464,543Modrey Mar. 15, 1949 2,578,723 McKenzie Dec. 18, 1951 Modrey Apr. 27,1954

